Earth moving device



June 20, 1939. w, AUSTIN 2,162,993

EARTH MOVING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1936 lN\ ENTOR. ELLSWORTH 14/ AUSTIN ATTORNEY.

Patented June 20, 1939 EARTH MOVING DEVICE Ellsworth W. Austin, Cedar Rapids, 'Iowa, as-

' signor to La Plant-Choate Manufacturing Company, Incorporated; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a

corporation of Delaware Application June. 25, 1936, SerialNo. 87,241

' 7 Claims. (Cl. s7 144)',

This invention" relates to earth moving devices and has particular relation to means for mounting a scraper blade on. a tractor or other prime mover in such manner that the blade may readily betilted with the ends thereof up or down as in 'c'rowning a road or the like or with the ends forward or back in order to throw material to theright or left as desired.

Various devices have been employed for attaching a blade supporting framework to a tractor, or the like, and for providing a plurality of attaching means inbrder that theblade may be tilted to one side or the other or arranged for sidecasting to throw material to one side or the theyare relatively complicated in structure and therefore expensive'to manufacture and maintain.

I have conceived of a means for mounting a blade on a blade supporting framework in such a manner that only a relatively simple structure is necessary and very little effort is required to mak the necessary changes in blade angle. An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved blade mounting for earth moving devices. f

A more specific object of my; invention is to provide a very much simplified mounting structure for mounting the blade of an earth moving device on the blade supporting framework.

Another object of my invention is to provide a verysimple structure for mounting the blade on the blade supporting framework so that the blade may be supported. in a plurality of positions with-- out the necessity of a complicated structure.

- 'Another object of my. invention is to provide an other. These devices have the disadvantage that extremely simple and" sturdy blade supporting and blade mounting structure. e

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved blade supporting structure and improved means for mounting this structure on a tractoro'r thelike. i

. A feature of my invention is the extreme'simplicit'y of the blade mounting structure and of r with one embodiment of my invention.

pins l9. This structure is an important feature of In said drawing:

Figure 1" is a view in perspective of an earth moving device having ablade supporting structure and a blade mounted thereon in accordance Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the rear'of the blade and of the means for securing the blade to the blade supporting framework.

Figure 3 is a view in section of a portion of the blade supporting framework, taken in a vertical plane passing through the pin 38 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective in exploded relation of the linkage means shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown'at Ill generally a prime mover such as a tractor, having endless tread running gears I, mountedone on'each side thereof and with the scraper blade supporting framework I2 or A-frame pivotally engaged to the running gears by means of pivot connections l3.

The connection between the scraper blade supcured to the rearmost portions of the side frame .members or channels Hi to form sockets in the rear ends of members 5, links l5 received within these sockets, and brackets I! on the running gear frames having eyes l8 adapted to receive thepivot my invention and is hereinafter described in greater detail. t V

The forward portion of each of the running gears is provided with a pair of. vertically extending plates 2| and 22 which are secured to and project upwardly from the running gear frame members 23 on each side of the link belt. tread 24. Rearwardly extending ears 26 and 21 of the plate members 2| and 22 are provided with openings-therethrough to act as trunnions for the head ends 28 of hydraulic .jacks 29, the heads 28 being adapted to pivotally rotate in the openings in the cars 26 and 21. I

The uppermost forward portions of the plates 2| and 22 haveopenings therethrough to receive, shafts 3| on which bell crank plates 32 are mounted, the shafts 31 being permitted to pivotally rotate in the plates 2| and 22. The rams 33 of the jacks 28 are pivotally engaged to lower rear corners of the plates 32, as indicated at 34. Obviously, in and out movement of the rams 33 result in lowering and raising the forward corners. 36 of the crank-like plates 32 to thus lower and raise the links 31. Since the links 31 arepivmechanism but pairs of brackets 4| are engaged on the upper face of the side frame members Ii and these brackets 4| carry rollers 42 adapted to roll on the outside faces of the plates 2| to act as guides for the A-frame, to assist in meeting sidewise acting forces on the A-frame, such as those encountered when the blade is set to throw material to one side or the other. The rollers roll on the plate 2| to furnish this support in any position of the A-frame.

The blade 43 is curved in section and is backed with a reinforcing plate 44, to assist the blade to meet the heavy stresses placed upon it while in use. The blade assembly thus formed is pivotally engaged, by means of bracket members 46 and 41, on a pin 48 which is in turn engaged within a pivot bearing 49. The pivot bearing 49 is T- shaped and the stem of the T extends through the nose of the A-frame l2 and is rotatably received therein. This mounting of the middle of the scraper blade on the nose of the A-frame permits the blade not only to oscillate about. the pin 4' on a vertical axis for'sidecasting but also about the stem of the T-member 49 to permit tilting about a longitudinal axis of the A-,-frame.

.While the center pivot mounting, which is comprised of the members 46, 41,4! and 49, is,

of strong, sturdy construction, it is considered advisable to additionally bralcethe blad by means of push arms such as the members 5|. These members ii are preferably channel sections with the inner dimension from top to bottom slightly greater than the corresponding dimansion on the side frame members It, in order that the members 5| may be received over, the side frame members, as indicated in Figure 1.

The push arms 5| may be secured to the side frame members it in a plurality of positions by engaging the pins if in any one of the openings 53. In rotating about the pin 48 in a horizontal plane the front ends of the push poles 5|, which are engaged to the ends of the blade 41, travel in the arc of a circle the center of which is approximately located at the pin 4|. Thus, with the blade 43 in a bulldozing" position, as in pushing material directly ahead of the tractor or "bulldoaing", the front ends of the push poles II will be in angular positions with reference to the members It, while in the extreme positions ofor the push poles n has little effect on the relationship of the parts of I the structure except that in the bulldozing or intermediate position of thelblade, the push poles II' are not quite as closely engaged over the side frame members It at any point except at'the pivots 52. when the blade is in either of the "sidecasting positions the rearmostpush polemaybepinnedtothe side teningmeansforfasteningthefrontcndsofthe blade.

push poles to scraper blades to permit t of the blades, but I have devised extremely simple means for securing the front ends of the push poles ii to the ends of the blade 43, in a plurality of vertical positions of the ends of the This I accomplish by providing a.p1urality of ears 54 on the front ends of the push poles SI and also a plurality of ears 56 on the rear face of the blade assembly. I then provide registered openings through the ears 56 which openings are arranged in the arc of the circle with the stem of the member 49 as the approximate center. I also provide openings in the ears 54 in the same manner and provide a bent pin 51 which is formed in an arc.

.Now'it is apparent that, as illustrated in Figure 2, if it is desired to change the vertical position of the ends of the blade 43, it is only necessary to withdraw the pins 51 and 52, pull the push pole 5| back until the ears 54 clear the ears 56 and move the ends of the blade 43 up or down as desired until the ears 56 register in new position between the ears 54 and then secure the ears in place again by inserting the pin through the registered openings of the ears 54 and 56 and re-engage the pins 52 in the push poles and in the side frame members l5. Obviously, a number of vertical positions of the ends of the blade 43 may be secured and the blade held in these positions as desired.

Many advantages flow from the use of this simple arrangement. The complicated fastenings, different for each tilted or oscillated position of the blade, formerly considered necessary. are now eliminated; .The use of short and long push poles is eliminated. Knuckle joints or ball and socket joints at the front ends of the push poles, for furnishing connection to the blade in sidecasting'fland bulldozing" positions, are eliminated. The two bent pins and the ears in push poles and blade ears provide a much stiifer connection than possible with the devices of the prior art.

I-have provided an improved connection of the A-frame to the running gear of'the tractor. The main frame of the usual bulldozer or trail builder is mounted in such a 'way that one side may be raised above the horizontal of the other one, such as whenthe tractor passes over uneven ground one track may oscillate up or down without materially affecting the position of the main frame.

Heretofore, pivot bearings in tractor mountings of the prior art have required spool constructions, the -spool being' arranged to swivel on a pin projecting from the tractor track roller Also various types of universal connec- In the present device a fixed pin or shaft ll is provided supported at both ends by the pivot bearing bracket 'II- A push pole support member or link I! is pivoted on pin it and arranged within the socket provided within the end of the push arm li, and'a second pin II is inserted throughthis socket member and the previously mentioned push pole support member II. Referring to the push pole end or socket wherein the support members enter, sumcient clearance is allowed that when oscillation of the tractor occurs cramping at this point is prevented. That is, part I [is free to turn slightly within the end oiwthe-pushearm. Pin II is arranged removably so that the tractor may be disengaged and frame, and a law arranged to surround the spool. tions have been made for connecting trail builder main frames to\tractor mountings.

backed from the main frame. This connection of the A-frame to the running gear permits the running gear to oscillate freely in passing over uneven ground without cramping the framework.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. In an earth moving device, a tractor, a

blade supporting framework, push-poles adapted to be engaged to the blade supporting frame work in a plurality of positions, a scraper blade pivotally engaged at the center to the blade supporting framework and means for engaging the blade to the push-poles in a plurality of positions comprising bracket members on the push-poles and scraper blade adapted for interfitting connection and a curved pin for securing together the bracket members, other means for pivotally engaging the blade supporting framework on the running gear of the tractor comprising a bracket member on the tractor, and a link'member pivotally engaged to the bracket and to the blade supporting framework, the blade supporting framework having a socket therein for receiving the link member.

2. In an earth moving device, a tractor, a blade supporting framework having rearwardly extending sockets, a bracket member secured to the .running gear of the tractor, a pivot pin extending from the bracket, a link member pivotally engaged on the pin and loosely secured within one of the sockets to allow the running gear to oscillate freely in passing over uneven ground without cramping the framework.

3. In an earth moving device including a prime mover, a blade supporting member engaged on the prime mover, a scraper blade pivotally engaged to the blade supporting member for tilting movement about a longitudinal axis of the supporting member, whereby the ends of the blade move in arcuate movement with reference to the blade supporting member in tilting the blade, bracing means for bracing at least one end of the blade with reference to the blade supporting member, brackets on the end of the bracing member and on the end of the blade having arcuately disposed openings through several vertical portions of the brackets, the radius of which is substantially the distance from the pivotal connections to'the openings, whereby, regardless of the position of tilt of the blade, the

openings of the bracket are always in substantial alignment, and a pin bent in arcuate shape on substantially the same radius as the arcuate openings in the brackets to permit it to pass through the arcuate openings in the brackets, whereby the blade may be secured to the blade supporting member and braced in any position of tilt by the means including the arcuate pin passed through the arcuate openings.

4. In an earth moving device including a prime mover, a blade supporting member engaged on the prime mover, a scraper blade pivotally engaged to the blade supporting member for movement about a longitudinal axis of the supporting member, pushpoles secured to the blade supporting member and blade engaging means for engaging the ends of the blade to the push-poles comprising bracket members on the push-poles and-blade ends, said bracket members having ear-like projections arranged radial to the longitudinai axis of the supporting member having openings therein arranged in an arcuate path, the radius of which is substantially the same as the distance from the pivotal connection tothe openings in the brackets, and a common fastening member curved in an arc conforming r substantially to the arc of'movement of the bladeengaging means.

5. In an earth moving device including a prime mover, a blade supporting member engaged on the prime mover, a scraper blade pivotally engaged to the blade supporting member for tilting movement about a longitudinal axis-of the supporting member, whereby the ends of the blade move in arcuate movement with reference to the blade supporting memberin tilting the blade, brackets on at least one end of the blade and on the blade supporting member disposed in interfitting relationship, said brackets including ear-like projections arranged radial to thepivotal connection and having openings therein arranged in an arcuate path, the radius of which is substantially identical with the distance from the pivotal connection to the opening, whereby, regardless of the position of tilt of the blade, the openings of the brackets are always in substantial alignment, and a common fastening member curved to pass through the arcuately placed openings, whereby the blade may be secured to the, blade supporting member in any position oftilt by means of the brackets and common fastening member.

6. In an earth moving device, a tractor, an'

A-frame, and means for pivotally engaging the rear ends of the A-frame'to the tractorincluding trunnions on the running gear of the tractor, relatively short links pivotally engaged on the trunnions and the rear ends of the A-frame having sockets for loosely receiving the free ends of the links, and-pins for loosely pinning the links in place in the sockets.

7. In an earth moving device, a tractor, a scraper blade, 2. blade supporting framework, means for connecting the blade to the framework. including a pivotal, connection to permit the blade to tilt from side to side, means for support- 

